Foundation Evening - 6.30pm for 7.00pm

Tonight our speaker will be Ben Cartwright, a civil engineer from Dyffryn Ardudwy near Harlech, who has recently completed a Masters degree in Integrated Water Management at the University of Queensland, Australia, funded in part by Rotary Foundation.

Water, once an abundant natural resource, is becoming a more valuable commodity due to droughts and overuse. “Water and Sanitation” and “Economic and Community Development” are two of the six areas Rotary has identified as critical to widespread humanitarian needs.

This evening we will focus on how the Rotary Foundation’s scholarship programme is helping to address these needs by providing essential education and development for the professionals whose expertise will be vital to meet these challenges. Ben will tell us about his work on relief programmes in Africa and Afghanistan, how Rotary has helped his development and how his current role should benefit farming, people and the environment in the developing world.

Ben, a civil engineer with 13 years professional experience, has worked on various projects including the Millennium Stadium, Water Treatment Plants, aid programmes in Afghanistan, Kenya and Sudan and, for the last 5 years, he has been been working at the Trawsfynyyd Decommissioning Site enabling him to learn, buy a house in Dyffryn and save for the Masters course that he has just finished.

Having worked overseas, Ben is keen to return to the field of development abroad, using the knowledge and experience he has gained to benefit farming, people and the environment globally.

At present Ben is working on the development of a new type of pump that is being targeted for use by smallholdings in the developing world.

Alongside his career, Ben enjoys variety in life, the outdoors and travelling. He is an established member of the local rugby team, keen snowboarder and likes to spend his spare time mountain biking or walking. Last year he organised the team fundraising and entry for the CARE Construction Challenge and completed three other charity events, a triathlon, a traverse of the Rhinog mountains and the Welsh 3000’s.

It is most interesting to read Ben's application for the Global Grant which can be downloaded here.